The church was organized on
November 10, 1871 and was charted in May 1873 with thirteen members.
The first church (the first Protestant church in the area) was a 30 by
50 foot building on the southeast corner of Broad and Bilbo Streets.
The first service in the church was held in October 1875. The church
was expanded in 1888. The name was changed to First Methodist Episcopal
Church, South in 1894.
A new church was built on the
site, with the first service held on July 19, 1900. A 1918 storm
damages the church and destroyed the belfry. The bell that hung in
the belfry was later given to Milsaps College.
Land was purchased on the corner
of Broad and Kirkman Streets in 1925. The cornerstone was laid for
a new church on March 9, 1928. Five months later, on August 11, the
first service was held. There were 1000 members at that time.
It helped to organize the University
Methodist Church in 1947 and the Oak Park Methodist Church in 1952.
An education wing was added
to the west side of the church in 1953. Another education building
(Mayo Building) was added in the 1960s on the west side of the main building.
The Family Activities Center was built south of the main building in 1976.
It contains a gym, classrooms, a kitchen, and the Lake Charles District
office.
The church operated a school
serving pre-school through 5th grade in 1968. In 1997, the elementary
portion closed so that the school could concentrate on pre-school age children. |
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